As a volunteer escort for the Allentown Womens' Center, it is tempting to focus on the amount of money Allentown taxpayers will have to pay to appease the 13 anti-abortion protesters who sued the city, to say nothing of the construction costs of the useless sidewalk on Keats Street that these individuals will in no way be constrained to use. The city is correct that paying them off is the quickest and cheapest way to make this one lawsuit go away....

Three anti-abortion advocates have filed suit against the city of Allentown, its police department and the Allentown Women's Center alleging constitutional and civil rights violations. It's the third lawsuit filed by various groups that regularly protest outside the clinic on Keats Street. The latest suit alleges police issued "groundless" criminal charges and claims the city has not adequately responded to complaints from protesters about wrongdoings occurring in the alley. "I think it's a baseless lawsuit and if we're able to have it dismissed I'll be seeking counsel fees and sanctions" against the people who brought the suit forward, said city solicitor Jerry Snyder.

Three anti-abortion advocates have filed suit against the city of Allentown, its police department and the Allentown Women's Center alleging constitutional and civil rights violations. It's the third lawsuit filed by various groups that regularly protest outside the clinic on Keats Street. The latest suit alleges police issued "groundless" criminal charges and claims the city has not adequately responded to complaints from protesters about wrongdoings occurring in the alley. "I think it's a baseless lawsuit and if we're able to have it dismissed I'll be seeking counsel fees and sanctions" against the people who brought the suit forward, said city solicitor Jerry Snyder.

Regarding the proposed settlement between Allentown and the anti-abortion protesters: Not only should the protesters be protected, so should the unborn children who are killed at that back alley building, the Allentown Women's Center. It is the protesters who offer choices to keep alive and protect the baby along with the dignity of the woman, including the rights of the father. Not only should the demonstrators get paid for every hour they spend saving babies, but they also help women through agencies and caring facilities such as Mary's Shelter in Reading.

About 50 anti-abortion protesters, some carrying signs, marched for an hour yesterday in a monthly rally outside Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown. The march came a day after the 21st anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision, which struck down abortion laws in all 50 states, but the rally didn't differ from others held at the hospital by Lehigh Valley Christian Action Council, the Rev. Donald Stone of Allentown said. "It was our usual program," said Stone, who was among the marchers.

More than 100 anti-abortion protesters, some carrying signs that said "Stop Abortion Now" and "Abortion Stops a Beating Heart," marched for about an hour yesterday in a monthly rally outside Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown. The Rev. Jack Kinneer, president of the Lehigh Valley Christian Action Council, which sponsored the march, said the protest was orderly and there was no organized opposition to the group or response from the hospital. The group met for prayer afterward, Kinneer said.

"People who butcher babies or participate in the killing of babies and in the scarring of women do not have a right to privacy." - David Solove, vice president, Christian Action Council of the Lehigh Valley Fortunately, seven of the nine members of the U.S. Supreme Court believe otherwise. They have upheld a Wisconsin town's law that prohibits pickets from concentrating their attention on a specific residence. The fact that this "specific residence" was that of a doctor who performed abortions, and the fact that the picketers (more than 40 at times)

In a sharp setback for anti-abortion demonstrators, the Supreme Court let stand yesterday a ruling banning Operation Rescue activists from blocking access to New York clinics and fining the organization $70,000 for harassing women seeking abortions. The decision not only adds to the financial troubles of Operation Rescue, but gives abortion rights lawyers a new legal weapon against vehement protesters. In other matters yesterday, the court: Ruled unanimously in a case from Idaho that Mormons who contribute money directly to the church's missionaries may not deduct those donations from their federal taxes.

To the Editor: I do not intend to offend Judge James Knoll Gardner with this letter. However, he could have been more explicit in telling anti-abortion "protesters" about their right to protest. The U.S. Constitution states (in part) that is protects: "the right of the people peaceably to assemble" This does not include nor is it interpreted to allow the terrorizing and harassment of clients and personnel of health clinics. Nor is this a "right" to engage in criminal or defiant trespass and vandalism at these clinics.

To the Editor: Regarding the Catholic Bishop's leading anti-abortion protesters in a march outside the Allentown Woman's Center on Oct. 6: When will those who oppose abortion so strongly realize what happens when the unborn who are not wanted become the newborn and then children who are even more strongly not wanted? They become the objects of child abuse, runaway teen-agers, criminals, just plain unloved people, tragically so. As a society, we need to make sure that family life is strong enough to nurture the next generation.

The pending money settlement between the City of Allentown and 13 anti-abortion protesters is a troubling matter because it settles little. That isn't entirely the fault of those who negotiated the agreement. Rather, two unfixable pieces of background have boxed in the city, the women who have a right to obtain legal abortions at the Allentown Women's Center, and even those who want to exercise their First Amendment rights. Relations between the protesters and the Women's Center changed when the center moved to East Allentown in December 2003.

The demonstrators who chant to end all abortions in the United States also should picket in favor of the significantly higher taxes necessary to rebuild our social welfare infrastructure. It has been systematically dismantled by right-wing politicians who garner votes by lowering taxes -- taxes needed to maintain programs for the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized. If protesters are correct that 1.4 million pregnancies are terminated annually through abortion, then over 42 million were not brought to term since the Roe v. Wade decision.

By Jennifer Boulanger Special to The Morning Call - Freelance | January 21, 2005

As the Jan. 22 anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion, Roe v. Wade, approaches, there will be a lot of discussion nationwide on the familiar issues. Here in the Lehigh Valley, the Allentown Women's Center has other, specific concerns, as well. In the simplest terms, women, their partners, and families are having difficulty gaining access to health-care services. It has become increasingly difficult to drive down a public street. Taxpayers are footing the bill for lawsuits against the city.

Anti-abortion protesters are again suing the city of Allentown, its mayor and police officials, saying their rights are being violated when they try to demonstrate on Keats Street, near the main entrance of the Allentown Women's Center. They say that the city is defying the ruling issued Aug. 9 by a federal judge in Philadelphia in response to the protesters' previous complaint. Judge James M. Kelly wrote that "plaintiffs, as individuals, are permitted to engage in their protests on Keats Street so long as they conduct their protest activities along the public walkways of Keats Street, in a lawful manner that does not obstruct traffic on Keats Street or the entrances to the [clinic]

Federal Judge James M. Kelly has struck the right balance with a ruling related to anti-abortion protesters at the Allentown Women's Center. The activists' freedom of speech permits them to conduct their activities along the public walkways of Keats Street "in a lawful manner that does not obstruct traffic," the clinic entrance or parking lot. Protesters and the Allentown Women's Center had co-existed for years when the center was located in its...

By Harley Payette Special to The Morning Call - Freelance | June 2, 2004

Phillipsburg Town Council has promised to take action on graphic displays during public demonstrations. A resident's complaint about a national anti-abortion group's demonstration on May 28 prompted council to consider banning the use of objectionable images in public events. The group picketed outside the American Women's Clinic, an OB/GYN facility at 157 S. Main St., using large signs depicting graphic images of mutilated babies. "The pictures were obscene and indecent," said Councilman David DeGerolamo at Tuesday's meeting.

The demonstrators who chant to end all abortions in the United States also should picket in favor of the significantly higher taxes necessary to rebuild our social welfare infrastructure. It has been systematically dismantled by right-wing politicians who garner votes by lowering taxes -- taxes needed to maintain programs for the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized. If protesters are correct that 1.4 million pregnancies are terminated annually through abortion, then over 42 million were not brought to term since the Roe v. Wade decision.

Eight protesters who have been picketing an Allentown abortion clinic have sought a federal court injunction to stop police activities they consider an unconstitutional restraint of their right to free speech. With the help of the American Catholic Lawyers Association, several neighbors of the Allentown Women's Center at 1409 Union Blvd., as well other people from as far away as Luzerne County, contend that police have harassed them, made groundless arrest threats and have issued citations for loitering, disturbing the peace and other charges that did not fit their actions.